1 Mysticism Catherine of Siena was of the most popular catholic saint. She was famous for her work with underprivileged and her charitable service. She derived her mysticism in the practical relief of human suffering. She gained legendary status while alive and the legendary status continued ever after her life because of the strong following she had. As can be ascribed from her literary works, she was independent in her approach of following religion; St Catherine was passionate regarding her engagement with institutional and spiritual aspects of Christianity. However, during her life, she was surrounded by mystery, doubt, and the supernatural. At an early age, she had already begun to experience the deepest levels of mysticism through visions, ecstasies, her stigmata, and her “mystical marriage with Christ”. In her book, Dialogo, which details her mystical experiences, she describes her stigmata, “I saw the crucified Lord coming down to me in a great light…Then from the marks of His most sacred wounds I saw five blood-red rays coming down upon me”. Mysticism according to William James is a sudden feeling which is found in an extremely frequent phenomenon, which may give a person a realization of having "been here before,” (William James 1902). The feeling may carry them into a different realm. This realm of consciousness according to him may be produced by intoxicants. The mystical states are absolutely authoritative over the individuals to whom they come. These experiences grant individuals significant revelations. The methods to achieve these mystical experiences are offered in Hindu yoga, Buddhism, Sufism, and Christian orison. As per William James, four characteristics segregate states of consciousness into mystical and non-mystical which are described below in relevance to St. Catherine. INEFFABILITY Ineffability means a state which cannot be described in words. During her life St Catherine had unmatchable love for humanity in a way that was not very popular those days. Her love for religion and humanity was in the form of serving the humans who were in great pain and grief. She used to be so engrossed in her love for humanity that at times she even forgot to eat. During her later part of the life, she could not even sleep at the despair of humans. Easier said than done, her approach to follow religion in spirit and institutional perspective was extraordinary in the way that can neither be described in words nor can be documented. NOETIC QUALITY This quality can take a person closest to the state of supreme knowledge. It is a state of revelation and illumination. These are again, inarticulate but they are carrying with them a curious sense of authority for after-time. St. Catherine, when she was at age of seven, consecrated her virginity. When she was sixteen, she took up the habit of Dominican Tertiaries. As a result of her illuminations, she gave a new direction to the life of anchorites in a small room in the house owned by her .

1. 1
Mysticism
Catherine of Siena was of the most popular catholic saint. She
was famous for her work with underprivileged and her
charitable service. She derived her mysticism in the practical
relief of human suffering. She gained legendary status while
alive and the legendary status continued ever after her life
because of the strong following she had. As can be ascribed
from her literary works, she was independent in her approach of
following religion; St Catherine was passionate regarding her
engagement with institutional and spiritual aspects of
Christianity.
However, during her life, she was surrounded by mystery,
doubt, and the supernatural. At an early age, she had already
begun to experience the deepest levels of mysticism through
visions, ecstasies, her stigmata, and her “mystical marriage with
Christ”. In her book, Dialogo, which details her mystical
experiences, she describes her stigmata, “I saw the crucified
Lord coming down to me in a great light…Then from the marks
of His most sacred wounds I saw five blood-red rays coming
down upon me”.
Mysticism according to William James is a sudden feeling
which is found in an extremely frequent phenomenon, which
may give a person a realization of having "been here before,”
(William James 1902). The feeling may carry them into a
different realm. This realm of consciousness according to him
may be produced by intoxicants. The mystical states are
absolutely authoritative over the individuals to whom they
come. These experiences grant individuals significant
revelations. The methods to achieve these mystical experiences
are offered in Hindu yoga, Buddhism, Sufism, and Christian
orison.
As per William James, four characteristics segregate states of

2. consciousness into mystical and non-mystical which are
described below in relevance to St. Catherine.
INEFFABILITY
Ineffability means a state which cannot be described in words.
During her life St Catherine had unmatchable love for humanity
in a way that was not very popular those days. Her love for
religion and humanity was in the form of serving the humans
who were in great pain and grief. She used to be so engrossed in
her love for humanity that at times she even forgot to eat.
During her later part of the life, she could not even sleep at the
despair of humans. Easier said than done, her approach to
follow religion in spirit and institutional perspective was
extraordinary in the way that can neither be described in words
nor can be documented.
NOETIC QUALITY
This quality can take a person closest to the state of supreme
knowledge. It is a state of revelation and illumination. These
are again, inarticulate but they are carrying with them a curious
sense of authority for after-time.
St. Catherine, when she was at age of seven, consecrated her
virginity. When she was sixteen, she took up the habit of
Dominican Tertiaries. As a result of her illuminations, she gave
a new direction to the life of anchorites in a small room in the
house owned by her father. She underwent three consecutive
years of celestial visitation and familiar conversations with
Christ. St. Catherine experienced mystical ‘spiritual espousal’.
Her mystical experiences became central to her life.
She on one occasion almost "died" i.e. for several hours she was
unconscious and later claimed to have experienced a spiritual
union with the divine.
TRANSIENCY
Mystical states cannot be sustained for long. Williams James
describes transiency as a state which fades shortly and cannot
be continue beyond an hour or two at length. Often once faded,
it can be recollected imperfectly but when the person goes in
the same state of mind time and again, he attains inner richness

3. and importance.
Similar was the case with St. Catherine as she is also said to
have ‘died’ for hours after which she woke up and claimed to
have spiritual union with the God. While she was traveling Italy
to counter anti-papal influence, she did not keep up regular with
her sleep and food. She used to have several of these transient
experience in which she unionized with the divine. These were
short lived but made her stronger in pursuit of knowledge.
PASSIVITY
The mystic feels as if one’s own will were in abeyance and at
times feels as if he were grasped and held by a super power. St.
Catherine was given the task to pacify the relation between the
Pope and Italian state. Despite her several failed attempts; she
continued to persuade the anti-papacy till the time she
succeeded. This depicts that she was held by the super power.
St. Catherine was held by the super power for all the humanity
she was involved into
St. Catherine from her child hood days was connected to the
God, laid all her life for betterment of humanity. She truly was
mystic.